Volume 4, No. 10                                  October 1, 2003                                                Page 1

The

MEGAPHONE

 Elwood, Indiana                                                                                            Elwood High School(s)

Contents

Page 1 . . . Your Old Home Town -- Sharon (Benedict) Hurst

Page 2 . . . October  -- Bob Hinshaw's Collection; Spelling Chequer -- Ginny (Hocker) Noble; Too Late

Page 3 . . . The Panther Den -- Sharon (Benedict) Hurst

Page 4 . . . My Love Affair With Planes -- Jerry McClish

Page 5 . . . All Expense Paid Trip to Elwood, Indiana!; Business at 22nd & So. J -- Nancy Sumner

Page 6 . . . In Memory of Shawn -- Sharon (Benedict) Hurst; Daylight-savings Time

Page 7 . . . High Winds -- Julie (Stout) Crim

Page 8 . . . Worm Your Way Out of This One -- Dear Cyberwocky; In Case You Missed It - #1 & #2

Your Old Home Town

Your Roving Reporter is really roving this time around. I am writing this to you from Arlington, Texas, near Lake Arlington. For those of you who know this area and for those who do not, I am right between Dallas and Ft. Worth in the center of the metroplex.

Things were right on schedule when I left Elwood. Anderson Street construction was going full steam ahead from Main Street to the bridge at North F Street. At the completion of this phase they will then work from the bridge to Fairground Road. Willkie Park will be updated and should be a lot more attractive. New sidewalks and lighting will bring continuity to Highway 13 all the way through town. How exciting it is to watch these things happen and know that I am a small part in making it all happen this way.

The housing addition on Fairground Road across from the schools has been given permission to increase the number of lots and go forward with more construction. This area has both one and two storey houses on the east side of the addition and garden home condominiums on the other. I have toured most of the structures as they were being built and was really impressed with the amenities and workmanship. All of the structures have 2 car garages, large utility areas and great storage.

Once again, I have been amazed at the difference in our small town, Elwood, and this large metroplex. I have been into Ft. Worth several times, to the grocery store several times and not once did I see people visiting with each other. There are so many restaurants around that you could eat at a different one for each meal for a month and the only time you would see someone you know is if they go with you. Of course, each neighborhood has its own friendships and visiting when people are home, but it seems that everybody goes a different way to shopping, hair salons, service stations, etc. In Elwood, it is impossible to go any place with out seeing several people to visit with. If you are driving through town, there is someone to wave at all the way through.

Of course, there are a lot of benefits in a large metroplex. Malls are abundant, museums also. There are many services, colleges, theaters, stage plays, zoos and just about any thing you could possibly want or need to do.

In a small town like Elwood, it is necessary to drive somewhere else to do these things. However, what people do not realize is that here in a large metropolitan area, people have to leave their neighborhoods to drive to whatever it is they are doing. The difference is that there are no buildings between Elwood and the places that offer the things to do and go to. People do not leave their “city limits” casually, they need a reason to go to Indianapolis or Anderson or any other place. Now this is not true for all small town denizens. Some people have learned how to go beyond their “city limits.”

I have noticed that there are many ways to stay in your “city limits.” Most naysayers do not leave their “city limits.”  They want to keep the status quo, they do not welcome change, they notice the difference in people and they do not know how to go beyond what has always been. They are content for the world to stand still.

We all know that when water stands still it becomes stagnant and unattractive. Things of beauty are not drawn to it. I believe that life is the same. Without movement in our life we too will become stagnant. Imagination, understanding, daring, helping, excitement, seeing what can be; these are all movement in our lives. Going beyond what has always been “done this way” and accepting something outside our “city limits” will ultimately help us to move from whatever to “What Ever I Can.”

The motto for the Robin’s Rest program here in Elwood is: “We remember our yesterdays, we dream of our tomorrows and we hope for our future. But today is the only time we can act on those memories, dreams and hope”. We can make “I wish” become “I did.” We can leave our “city limits” one mile at a time until we can go down that road to unlimited ideas. Who wants to be bound by their own “city limits”?

As Julie Crim would tell us all, "Just Do It!"

Your Roving Reporter

Sharon (Benedict) Hurst '53

Usually in Elwood, Out on Fairground Road

Now roving about in Texas